Commuting

Here are the questions filed under this category. To read Ken's advice on any item, click on the link "Read Ken's Answer."

I have to drive with a coworker for 3 hours each day, 15 hours a week. I have been forced to hear all about her dysfunctional/abusive childhood. So as an adult, she is 54 years old, she is, well, dysfunctional. She twists the truth, and will embellish a story to the point of lying. Help! I am worn out having to listen to her. I have applied for three other jobs, asked at work to be transferred and have run out of patience. Now she is focusing her drama at me. I made the mistake of mentioning that her eating onions and garlic daily, (she claims it is "healthy and her thing") makes my nose run because the odor is so strong, and she became offended and said that garlic and onions do not make her breath smell bad and that I must have a auto immune disorder along with severe allergies in order to even smell it. And now she is threatening to go to my boss and tell him about my "dysfunction". I am stunned by her outrageous response. How can I deal with this type of personality? The stress of dealing with her is distracting me when I'm not even at work. Read Ken's Answer